I didn't realize you get a catheter with an epidural

asnowracer

Seems logical as I imagine you can't WALK to the bathroom! duh.

Are they painful? Well, I guess if you have an epi you can't feel anything, is it painful to take out or afterwards? Does it increase the risk of UTIs?

 

none of the answers will sway me from an epi.

pretty_helmet

I want a catheter now!

PlannedChaos

No - I don't even remember it with my first baby.  You can't feel it, and after you have the baby, everything down there hurts, so it's not really a big deal.

MamaMyers22

It will be your best friend, I was sad wneh they took mine out.  You also have one if you have CS.  They aren't the most comfortable thing in the world, but they are bearable.  I don't know about UTI's.

aynjc

I know...well, we don't want to pee all over the floor, but the thought of that makes me nervous.  Since no one really talks about that part, I'm assuming it's not bad.

TonyaCody06

On our unit we wait till you are numb to put it in (so you don't feel it) and pull it right before you start pushing (you are still numb and don't feel it). You will need one anyways if you end up with a c-section. Yes, they can increase risk of UTI's, there are risks to everything. But a distended bladder is worse!

vhab

The first one I had was not painful to remove.  The second they did not get the bulb fully deflated before pulling it out, and it hurt a little bit (might have hurt more had I not still had major drugs in my system)  The worst part was that mine was in long enough that my body forgot how to pee on it's own.

Temp159135562506975

i didn't even know they put one in me.. nor took it out... never felt it.

i have read some women get infections from them, but not super common.

you can have some burning while peeing after b/c it might scrape you up inside... but in genearl you won't notice it.

Linzemac

Before they insert the catheter they will sterlize the area with iodine, as long as you aren't leaving it in for long periods of time (ie days to weeks) there should be no increase in the rate of UTI.

Aimee0289

I've never had an epidural, but I have been catheterized and it's not that bad. It pinches and then you feel some unpleasant pressure in an area where pressure is not common, and then you get used to it. My HSG was MUCH worse.

I would think it would be even less discomfort with an epidural, but can't be sure.

vhab

And mine was taken out later since i had a c-section.

married.com

I have had a catheter twice. No big deal at all. A little pressure when they take it out. I wish I could have one put in now.

aggiewed05

I never felt mine go in or come out.  I also forgot how to pee and they wouldn't let me leave until I did 3 times so we were there longer than expected.  Don't worry too much about it, if you've never had one they sound scary but they really aren't.  You will probably be glad to have one.

JoviGirl80

In our childbirth class the nurse from our hospital said that they don't leave one in but if the bladder starts to get full they put one in to drain it and then take it out.  This is only if you have the epidural.

SWMcFarland

asnowracer:

 Does it increase the risk of UTIs?

I have had serious UT problems since I was very little.  They finally decided I have reflux, which causes UTI's very frequently.  Every time I was tested, or sick, I had a catheter,  it seemed to make it much worse than when I didn't.  Perhaps it was just a coinsidence, but I always seem to get very sick after one. 

For that reason, I am going to do everything I can to avoid the epi.  Now, if it has to be, fine, I'll deal with it, but it just seems that every time I have to get one, it makes me very ill. 

Honestly, this is one of my biggest fears about the whole thing.  I had a test one time when I was 14, wasn't sick before I went in, but after the catheter, I ended up getting a severe UTI, fever, etc. and had to be hospitalized. 

Again, this is something that I am sure is not the norm!!

shinysparklybubbles

pretty_helmet:

I want a catheter now!

me too!

AlmostDunn

If I remember right JAR had a UTI after her c-section with Julia.

HeatherHanna

I've never seen a patient complain that its terribly painful, just a little uncomfortable.  Unless the nurse fills the balloon up to much... just make sure your nurse isn't retarded and can read.

AngelGirlEms

I was soooooo worried about the catheter before I went in to have DD.  I have no idea why, but for some reason, it just scared me and didn't sound like a great thing....especially since I've had over 10+ UTI's/kidney infections in my life (no joke) and did NOT want to deal with that after having a baby.  I got my epidural around 8am and at about 12:30pm when I was about to push, they needed to empty my bladder so they put in a catheter to do so....that's all it was....put it in, emptied my bladder, and took it back out again.  And this is what made DD drop even farther as a full bladder was holding her back a bit.  So it was in for about 2 minutes???  I didn't feel a thing!!!  (and could have cared less at that point....trust me!)  DH said that they basicalled poured on the iodine so there is no way I could have gotten a UTI!  The epidural actually wears off pretty quick (afterwards, not during delivery)....or at least it seemed quick.....and you can get up to pee after that if you want.  It took a good 6 hours for my bladder to work again....happens after "traumatic experiences to your urinary tract" so I'm told!  (and took days for a bowel movement!)

JOEBunny

I only had it for the time I had the epi, not even, since I didn't get it until about 3 hours after.  They took it out right after DD was born.  I don't remember feeling anything from it or them taking it out.  I do remember going to the bathroom for the 1st time after DD was born.  That hurt!

mlkbride03

I was scared of the catheter b/c I had one prior to labor, and it was awful. But, my midwife waited until after the epi kicked in to put in the catheter, so I didn't feel a thing. Getting it out was a breeze compared to all of the other pains of labor & delivery.

yonni2002

I had to get a catheter at 13weeks when I was dehydrated from m/s. It was the kind they stick in to  empty your bladder and then pull out. It was rather uncomfortable since I was so nervous but it didn't hurt.